European Railroad Discussion > Virgin Trains East Coast

As mentioned previously, Virgin / Stagecoach took over the running of the East Coast Main Line here in the UK. For the launch, a full electric set was turned out in the VTEC colours. Seen here at Burn, Yorkshire, with the loco 91124 leading, and the driving van trailer 82219 on the rear. Chris UK.

---

---

So they're back I see the title says Virgin so what Train Operating Company is this? is it just "Virgin"? The clock is now ticking 8 years to go to pay back the government £3.3bn. Time to watch this space and see if they perform better than the two previous franchises.
As for the paint scheme is that the best they can do? IMHO It comes a poor second to the West Coast paint job, but eh ho!
Keith G, London, UK

It's called VTEC - Virgin Trains East Coast.

Virgin Cola - anyone??

Erm..........no thanks

Despite appearances VTEC is majority owned by Stagecoach, they call the tune.

Not to bad looking... I do like Coca Cola! Not to shabby for the first day of operation...Give them some time...

Which makes it all the more intriguing as to why it is not Stagecoach's logo and paint scheme on the trains, mind you East Midlands Trains and East Coast Trains might confuse.

Yep. Very surprising to not find at least a small band of blue somewhere in the paint scheme, which could look good. No matter if it is a tram, bus, coach, Megabus or even a Megabus in the US you can bet that Stagecoach has their four main company colours applied somewhere, but surprisingly no blue here.

Jim

CIT1023 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Which makes it all the more intriguing as to why
> it is not Stagecoach's logo and paint scheme on
> the trains, mind you East Midlands Trains and East
> Coast Trains might confuse.

You could ask the same of VWC where Stagecoach is also the majority stakeholder or Virgin Airlines where Singapore hold a controlling interest. This seems to be Branson's modus operandi, he effectively sells the brand and he's done it again with VTEC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/15 14:26 by 86235.

86235 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CIT1023 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > Which makes it all the more intriguing as to why
> > it is not Stagecoach's logo and paint scheme on
> > the trains, mind you East Midlands Trains and East
> > Coast Trains might confuse.
>
> You could ask the same of VWC where Stagecoach is
> also the majority stakeholder or Virgin Airlines
> where Singapore hold a controlling interest. This
> seems to be Branson's modus operandi, he
> effectively sells the brand and he's done it again
> with VTEC.

All,

I'd have to say that the Virgin brand "plays better" with the public. Better known, and an all around better brand. I think Stagecoach knows this and is happy to let Sir Richard be the figurehead.

J.

J.Ferris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'd have to say that the Virgin brand "plays
> better" with the public. Better known, and an all
> around better brand. I think Stagecoach knows this
> and is happy to let Sir Richard be the
> figurehead.
>
> J.
Clearly that must be behind the business plan, although Stagecoach do operate two franchises in their own name which are pretty highly regarded, East Midlands and South West Trains. It's not as though Connex are trying to sneak in through the backdoor.

86235 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> You could ask the same of VWC where Stagecoach is
> also the majority stakeholder or Virgin Airlines
> where Singapore hold a controlling interest. This
> seems to be Branson's modus operandi, he
> effectively sells the brand and he's done it again
> with VTEC.

Singapore Airlines held a 49% share of Virgin Atlantic - most nations prohibit foreign entities from owning controlling shares of airlines. SQ sold their interest to Delta a couple of years ago.

Virgin has only a 10% equity share in East Coast - Stagecoach has the rest.

Dave

Reminds me of Candy swirls here in the states Chris . Nice shots though.
Andy



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/15 11:16 by westernking.